Right, while I know there's a thread about the 6th book, I wanted to create one to encompass the entire series. All of J.K. Rowling's books are amongst my favourite works of all time, and with the 7th book in the series, "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" having just been released, I figured many MSers would be avidly reading. In this thread, anything relating to any of the books is welcome, and if you want to comment on the movies then that's alright as well. My nerdy knowledge of Harry Potter is second only to my nerdy knowledge of Tolkien, so don't be afraid to ask ridiculously specific questions either! Oh, and in case people haven't finished reading the 7th book yet, I'll make the small request that no spoilers are released for a week or so.

To start up some discussion, what are your feelings about the grand tale coming to an end? I'm really happy with the book, though it's not without some sadness that I won't be able to look forward to more books. I read the first book in 1998, and have always awaited the release of the next instalment with great anticipation, but it's yet to really hit me that there won't be any more. Also, I'm a real completionist, and it irked me somewhat to not have complete information about the future of some of the characters and places in the epilogue. That would have given a nice air of finality about proceedings, but the way it stands now seems to leave the door open a crack for future works, which I really hope are forthcoming...

i never grew to be a Harry Potter fan. an aunt gave me the first book some time ago and i read the first paragraph and didn't get on. but my younger brother took and read it, and then the second, and the third, until now the last one which he recieved on friday night and by saturday noon he had finished it!
that lead me to think on the book structure, i mean, if he read it so fast, it may not be that hard to read... i always thought of those books as childrens books, but that's just an impression I got from reading just one paragraph of the whole series, so im probably incredibly wrong.
but anyway, not much to say from my point of view, so i'll check when there are more posts and probably write again

They are pretty easy read, yeah. I read the first four when I was sick some five years ago. Quite amusing, but haven't bothered to read the rest. Wasn't that much into the 'childish' setting, but it grew a bit more serious book by book, if I recall correctly.

I find the entire series very very cheesy and stupid, no offence just my opinion.

I just have finished the 7th book (that was 10m minutes ago ) anyways, I'd say it tied a lot of loose ends, and well to me it was somewhat satisfactory (this is a bit difficult to explain with the no spoilers thing : ) book five still remains my favorite of the series,, well i am not sure of this but didn't Rowling state that she will not write "spin-off" books on Harry Potter?

I read entire series, except the last book. First one I read when I was 12 or 13, not sure, immidiately after it was released with Serbian translation. I got bunch of books for present from some family friend who works in some book label here. At that age it was really good, I liked it a lot, and read it very fast. After I read first book I got second one, and that is where my Harry Poter addictivness appeared. After that I read all other books, as soon as they were released. They are not some hig uality read, but it is interesting, have good story, and it is very cute, you don't have to read Friedrich Nitzhe or Brehtol Breht all the time.

I am little annoyed with her opssesion to kill one main charachter per book, why? Well, it is stupid, everyone knows that one main character will die, and then, before every book, there is that big mystery, who will die?? I saw even some idiots make bets, which were over 20.000 pounds. She could do that little better, let say, in fourth book 5 main charaters dies, in 6th only some lesser jerks and in 7th, everyone.

Favorite characters (sorry for the spelling, I read books in Serbian, so I don't have idea how to spell those weird names) would be brothers Vesley, Ron's older brothers, yup, probably everyone likes them, but they are cool. Also like Dambldor, Black, while he was alive, Pugsley, some random school members, and of cause old good Hagred.

Personally, I am not very interesting in new book, since my opinion is that she went in totally wrong direction with writting it, I don't know what she wanted to achieve, but since Order Of Phenix (including that book) I don't really like Harry Poter

Written by APOHAKC on 24.07.2007 at 16:22

I don't really like Harry Poter

hahaha,, yeah he is a whiner and very self centered,, he annoys me a lot with his very narrow view, but hey with out the books would not have been written

I personally just love Snape,, he is still my favorite character very complex and different from the rest, who are either "good" or "evil" which i think there is no such thing it is always a mixture of both

and Aronax it is worth while to read the last book, even if you do not like her direction in writing, it finally ends the series.

I read the books and they were very entertaining but when I watched the movies I was not as fond...I personally don't care about going to see the last Harry Potter myself...my favorite character would have to be Snape too...

Written by Bararey on 24.07.2007 at 18:43

I personally just love Snape,, he is still my favorite character very complex and different from the rest, who are either "good" or "evil" which i think there is no such thing it is always a mixture of both

Seconded

IMO Harry Potter (the character) is less annoying in the last book, he whines less and acts more, not always relying on his friends for ideas or protection.
Anyway the last book was great, I got it Monday morning and finished it Tuesday around 6 am after reading all night. Everything fits in the end, and it's awesome how small details of previous books suddenly take much more importance. Great ending for a great series

About the movies... I'm always disappointed though I think the last one (the 5th book) was not so bad. It must have been really hard to turn the longest and most psychological book of the series into a two-hour film, and yet I think the director made good choices because I saw it with friends who hadn't read the book, and they managed to understand almost everything. However the special effects were terrible IMO Imagination is much better, in particular regarding Voldemort vs Dumbledore duel.

@Bararey - I like Snape too, he is cool guy, although sometimes he is just to boring and all the story around him, you know Harry, Ron and Hermione

Harry: He is Evil
Ron: Yes, he is
Hermione: Indeed
Harry: But maybe...
Ron: ...he is not that Evil?
Hermione: That's right,, he is not
Harry: Definetely Evil
Ron: Yup
Hermione: agree
...

That is what little annoy me, although, that doesn't have to do anything with him

About mouvie, I actually liked it, it is nice watch, somewhat relaxing. I watched all of them with my ex and we had nice time watching the mouvie about book we read long time ago, and liked before, even now.

I'm after seeing the film....for one brief moment Helena Bonham Carter's Bellatrix resembled Jack Sparrow...awfully....
Well....I suggest you all watch "Harry Potter and the Secret Chamberpot of Azerbaijan" starring French and Saunders....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9onI92OxBHY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zjWGgWnd6Ec&mode=related&search=
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mIapf3G-eSM&mode=related&search=
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0xodve30qfA&mode=related&search=

Written by Ernis on 25.07.2007 at 21:16

I'm after seeing the film....for one brief moment Helena Bonham Carter's Bellatrix resembled Jack Sparrow...awfully....
Well....I suggest you all watch "Harry Potter and the Secret Chamberpot of Azerbaijan" starring French and Saunders....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9onI92OxBHY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zjWGgWnd6Ec&mode=related&search=
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mIapf3G-eSM&mode=related&search=
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0xodve30qfA&mode=related&search=

"you're a woman Harry" o.O
or McGonagall: "I'm standing next to King Arthur... King Arthur, Gandalf, who are you darling?"

Some parts were pretty funny

Yeah...awesome...

Harry: "Jealous of my knocks, oy?! Don't worry, Ron, you'll get yours too!! .....Mine came overnight... "

I found it quite stupid, but tastes are different..

I finished reading the 7th book a couple of days ago. Harry Potter became my top favorite series of books As Kaamos said, every book is more serious than the previous one, that's why I liked them so much. They are definitely not "a story for kids". I think that the story is very well written, it is much more complex than lots of people think. My favorite characters are Lord Voldemort, Dumbledore, Hermione, Snape and Hagrid (he's one hell of a guy).

The movies are ok, obviously lots of things change but they are worth the time to watch them. I think that the movies are more children-orientated than the books. For example, Bellatrix Lestrange, her portrayal in the films is quite ridiculous, though I loved her but Bellatrix in the books is meaner and much more frantic.

Written by APOHAKC on 28.07.2007 at 04:07

I found it quite stupid, but tastes are different..

You're right....but that's what French and Saunders are....I agree...they can sometimes even be rather perverse and dirty while making spoofs of films...i.e. making the spoof of "Doctor Quinn" and renaming it "Doctor Quimn"(those who don't know, quim means the same as cunt...)

Written by Bitch Boy on 28.07.2007 at 22:18

For example, Bellatrix Lestrange, her portrayal in the films is quite ridiculous, though I loved her but Bellatrix in the books is meaner and much more frantic.

See...I told you that she acted like Jack Sparrow in the film.....

I saw million of Harry Potter make ups, in English, Serbian... it is just not funny anymore, same with Lord Of The Rings make ups

I've seen more than one spoof as well....but well...French and Saunders are simply a class of their own....and they're always professional....

Chinese have done it bigger HAHA

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Potter_and_Leopard-Walk-Up-to-Dragon

Now that is awesome..
"Harry doesn't know how long it will take to wash the sticky cake off his face. For a civilised young man, it is disgusting to have dirt on any part of his body. He lies in the elegant bathtub, keeps wiping his face, and thinks about Dudley's face, which is as fat as Aunt Petunia's ass."

Im curious about the new one.

Spoiler Warning

OK so a few thing s in the book nagged me a bit,

The final encounter with Voldemort, I mean for 7 books it seemed that he was a very powerful wizard and what not, and the final inevitable final stand between him and Harry should be a memorable one, and the one in the book disappointed me, I was like that was it?! Meh!

And what ever happened to Umbridge?! The death eaters?!

And when Snape died and his last words was "Look.. at .. me" was he basically just trying to look at Harry's eyes to remember Lily? (they both have the same eyes) coz that was the only explanation I can come up with.

Written by Bararey on 04.08.2007 at 17:53

Spoiler Warning

OK so a few thing s in the book nagged me a bit,

The final encounter with Voldemort, I mean for 7 books it seemed that he was a very powerful wizard and what not, and the final inevitable final stand between him and Harry should be a memorable one, and the one in the book disappointed me, I was like that was it?! Meh!

And what ever happened to Umbridge?! The death eaters?!

And when Snape died and his last words was "Look.. at .. me" was he basically just trying to look at Harry's eyes to remember Lily? (they both have the same eyes) coz that was the only explanation I can come up with.

These are SPOILERS too

1. You're right, that wasn't even a duel. The one against Dumbledore was more interesting.

2. In an interview, JK Rowling said that Umbridge was imprisoned because of her crimes against mudbloods. The Death Eaters... some of them died in the battle, some others were imprisoned too, and some others escaped.

3. Yes, you're right. That's because Harry inherited Lily's eyes and Snape tried to remember her.

WOW, I shouldn't read these posts before book

Written by Bitch Boy on 05.08.2007 at 01:30

Written by Bararey on 04.08.2007 at 17:53

Spoiler Warning

OK so a few thing s in the book nagged me a bit,

The final encounter with Voldemort, I mean for 7 books it seemed that he was a very powerful wizard and what not, and the final inevitable final stand between him and Harry should be a memorable one, and the one in the book disappointed me, I was like that was it?! Meh!

And what ever happened to Umbridge?! The death eaters?!

And when Snape died and his last words was "Look.. at .. me" was he basically just trying to look at Harry's eyes to remember Lily? (they both have the same eyes) coz that was the only explanation I can come up with.

These are SPOILERS too

1. You're right, that wasn't even a duel. The one against Dumbledore was more interesting.

2. In an interview, JK Rowling said that Umbridge was imprisoned because of her crimes against mudbloods. The Death Eaters... some of them died in the battle, some others were imprisoned too, and some others escaped.

3. Yes, you're right. That's because Harry inherited Lily's eyes and Snape tried to remember her.

1. I suppose she couldn't really make that duel all epic and warlike, because if she did then there would be no way Voldemort could lose because let's face it, Harry isn't spectacular at magic. It had to be done in a way that Voldemort would lose due to his lack of love.

2. I was a bit cut about the omission of the fates of Umbridge and other Death Eaters, but even more about the lack of information about Luna Lovegood's, George Weasley's, and the Dursleys' futures! Oh well...

3. Definitely because of Lily's eyes.

As for the book as a whole, I've read it twice more now, and I swear it gets better each time.

Written by Judas on 05.08.2007 at 09:45

Written by Bitch Boy on 05.08.2007 at 01:30

Written by Bararey on 04.08.2007 at 17:53

Spoiler Warning

OK so a few thing s in the book nagged me a bit,

The final encounter with Voldemort, I mean for 7 books it seemed that he was a very powerful wizard and what not, and the final inevitable final stand between him and Harry should be a memorable one, and the one in the book disappointed me, I was like that was it?! Meh!

And what ever happened to Umbridge?! The death eaters?!

And when Snape died and his last words was "Look.. at .. me" was he basically just trying to look at Harry's eyes to remember Lily? (they both have the same eyes) coz that was the only explanation I can come up with.

These are SPOILERS too

1. You're right, that wasn't even a duel. The one against Dumbledore was more interesting.

2. In an interview, JK Rowling said that Umbridge was imprisoned because of her crimes against mudbloods. The Death Eaters... some of them died in the battle, some others were imprisoned too, and some others escaped.

3. Yes, you're right. That's because Harry inherited Lily's eyes and Snape tried to remember her.

1. I suppose she couldn't really make that duel all epic and warlike, because if she did then there would be no way Voldemort could lose because let's face it, Harry isn't spectacular at magic. It had to be done in a way that Voldemort would lose due to his lack of love.

2. I was a bit cut about the omission of the fates of Umbridge and other Death Eaters, but even more about the lack of information about Luna Lovegood's, George Weasley's, and the Dursleys' futures! Oh well...

3. Definitely because of Lily's eyes.

As for the book as a whole, I've read it twice more now, and I swear it gets better each time.

If you've got enough time, take a look at this chat transcript or at this one.

It contains some spoilers about what happened to Luna and George. But there are no news about the Dursleys

@Bitch Boy: Whoa, thanks! That's really cool, I haven't actually browsed The Leaky Cauldron for a while, might check the rest of it out now...

Written by Bitch Boy on 05.08.2007 at 20:15

If you've got enough time, take a look at this chat transcript or at this one.

Thanks! I have heard from other people that she did answer questions in an interview, but I couldn't find the location to that interview.
I've read it, it answers some questions, but correct if i am wrong here, but didn't the sorting hat burst into flames in book 7? If so how are they sorting at Hogwarts w/o it?!

This was quite informative! Thank you

Another spoiler...

About the Sorting Hat... I don't think it has burnt till reduced to ashes. There was probably some magical protection (it was Gryffindor's after all!) which made the flames die as soon as Voldemort stopped concentrating hard on the spell making the hat (and Neville) burn. If my memory serves me right, it happened the moment when centaurs arrived and finally took part in the battle, so it must have made Voldemort unable to concentrate for a moment, just enough for Neville to get the sword.

Written by Bararey on 06.08.2007 at 15:28

Written by Bitch Boy on 05.08.2007 at 20:15

If you've got enough time, take a look at this chat transcript or at this one.

Thanks! I have heard from other people that she did answer questions in an interview, but I couldn't find the location to that interview.
I've read it, it answers some questions, but correct if i am wrong here, but didn't the sorting hat burst into flames in book 7? If so how are they sorting at Hogwarts w/o it?!

I think that Sekhmet's theory is right. The hat didn't burnt into ashes because Voldemort got distracted because of the centaurs, the thestrals, etc. And the hat was still able to give Neville the sword.

So apparently I did not see this coming, despite the fact i have read the books more than once.
Usually there are hints here and there so JK Rowling revealing in an interview that Dumledore was gay came to me as a surprise because i thought that i was good at picking things out fast, not in the case, the interview is found here